Actor Michael Madsen, known for his iconic role in Reservoir Dogs, received a final text message from his son that simply said, “I love you, Dad.” Tragically, that was the last communication he would ever have with his child.

Hudson Madsen, Michael’s 26-year-old son, took his own life after returning from his first tour of duty as a U.S. Army Sergeant stationed in Hawaii. The news devastated Michael Madsen, who had only recently spoken with his son. In an interview with the LA Times, the Kill Bill star expressed his shock, saying, “I am in disbelief. Just days ago, he told me he was happy. The last message I got from him was ‘I love you, Dad.’”

Madsen shared that he hadn’t noticed any signs of depression in his son, making the tragedy even harder to comprehend. “It’s such a terrible and tragic situation,” he added. “I’m struggling to understand what happened and make sense of it all.”

Hudson was the eldest son of Michael and DeAnna Madsen. He was also the godson of renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. Hudson had two younger brothers, Luke and Kalvin, while Michael had two other sons, Christian and Max, from a previous marriage to Jeannine Bisignano.

In 2019, Hudson married Carlie, who often shared affectionate posts about their relationship on social media. The couple, who were facing challenges with conceiving naturally, had been considering IVF. Just a week before Hudson’s tragic death on January 22, 2022, Carlie shared a photo of herself in a hospital gown on Instagram, revealing that she had recently undergone surgery to remove a tumor.

In the post, she praised Hudson’s unwavering support, writing, “I want to give a special shout-out to my amazing husband! He’s been so patient throughout this whole process. I had surgery yesterday to remove a tumor from one of my breasts. We spent about seven hours at the hospital. While I was in surgery, he went to Target and bought me a card, flowers, cozy pajamas, and my favorite candy! He’s been incredible in helping me recover, and I’m so grateful.”

A few weeks later, Carlie posted a touching photo of herself and Hudson on Twitter with the simple caption, “I miss you so much.” The circumstances of Hudson’s suicide have left many bewildered.

Michael Madsen, 64, expressed his anguish over his son’s death, stating, “He had the usual challenges with finances that most people have, but he was thinking about starting a family. This is just mind-boggling because he seemed to be looking forward to the future. I just don’t know what went wrong.”

Despite appearing content, Hudson had been struggling with mental health issues, exacerbated by his experiences in Afghanistan. Madsen revealed that his son had stopped seeking counseling and had kept his struggles to himself. Concerned, Madsen urged the military to investigate, suspecting that Hudson had been shamed by his officers and peers. However, the findings of that investigation remain undisclosed.

In the wake of Hudson’s death, Michael Madsen was arrested at his Malibu home, which he had recently been evicted from. He was charged with trespassing and released on bail. Madsen has a history of legal troubles, including a charge of child endangerment in 2012 and a DUI in 2019.

Following Hudson’s death, the Madsen family released a statement expressing their grief: “We are crushed and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson. His memory and light will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.”

On January 23, 2023, Carlie posted a heartfelt tribute to her late husband on Instagram, saying, “I can’t believe a year has passed without you. The pain is still as intense as it was that day. I think of you every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. I miss you more than words can express.”

Hudson Madsen’s tragic death is a poignant reminder of the importance of reaching out to loved ones. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available. The Suicide Hotline in the United States and Canada can be reached at 9-8-8 for anonymous support.